Self-closing device for a flexible pouch

ABSTRACT

A squeeze-openable device applied near the opening of a sleeve-like bag snaps back upon its release to close the bag and prevent the bag&#39;s contents from spilling. The device has opposing strips connected to one another at each end. Each strip has a structure that assists the strips in snapping back to its original position to close the bag. The device can be placed on the outside of the bag or within the bag&#39;s throat. The device can have a latch to secure one strip to the other.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/810,535, filed Jun. 2, 2006, the disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety including all figures, tablesand drawings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The convenience of disposable packaging has become increasingly popularin our busy society. Everything from produce, to food staples, to snackfoods is now packaged in flexible pouches. These bags or pouches howeverusually have no support and collapse once opened. The mouth or openingof the bag likewise collapses on itself to either obstruct access to thebag or to allow the contents of the bag to flow freely out of the bag. Aself-expanding and reclosable bag is described in U.S. Pat. No.5,174,658. This bag is provided with extensible stays to assure thatonce opened, the throat of the bag remains open and its contentsaccessible. In certain situations however it is preferred that thethroat or opening of the bag close immediately after access to preventits contents from spilling. For example, while consuming a sleeve ofsunflower seeds on a car trip, it would be preferred that an open bagclose automatically when placed on the next seat to prevent the seedsfrom spilling all over the car. It would also be convenient if onceclosed, the bag could be reopened by simply squeezing it with one hand.

There is a need for a squeeze-openable device applied to a flexible bagthat recloses that bag upon release to prevent the bag's contents fromspilling. Such a bag would be particularly useful for items such as, forexample, ready-to-go snack foods, confectionary packaging, medical andpharmaceutical packaging, and precision parts packaging.

All patents, patent applications, provisional patent applications andpublications referred to or cited herein, are incorporated by referencein their entirety to the extent they are not inconsistent with theteachings of the specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention involves a manually-openable, pressure responsive, openingmeans applied to a sleeve-like bag that closes upon its release toprevent the contents of the bag from spilling. The device has opposingstrips joined at the ends that are placed in or around the throat of thebag opening. Squeezing the ends toward one another causes the strips ofthe device to part opening the throat of the bag. Upon release of theends, the strips snap back together obstructing the opening in thethroat of the bag and preventing the contents of the bag from spilling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of theopening means of the subject invention formed by extrusion.

FIG. 2 is an exploded side elevational view of the embodiment shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 closedand latched.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1closed and latched.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of theopening means of the subject invention formed by extrusion.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of theopening means of the subject invention formed by injection molding.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 folded.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7closed and latched.

FIG. 10 is the other side elevational view of the embodiment shown inFIG. 7 closed and latched.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of another preferred embodimentof the opening means of the subject invention suitable for applicationto the outside of a bag.

FIG. 12 is an exploded side elevational view of the embodiment shown inFIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of theopening means of the subject invention.

FIG. 14 is a broadside elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG.13.

FIG. 15 is a side edge elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG.13.

FIG. 16 is an end view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of thesubject invention positioned around the throat of a flexible pouch.

FIG. 18 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of thesubject invention positioned inside the throat of a flexible pouch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention involves a device applied to a flexible sleeve-like bagthat opens with one hand and closes the bag automatically to prevent thecontents of the bag from spilling.

A preferred embodiment of the device of the subject invention is shownin FIG. 1. The device is a manually openable, pressure responsive,opening means. The opening means has opposing strips. The strips areconnected to one another at each end. The ends can be connected by alatch system or can be adhered to one another. Pressure on the ends ofthe strips, pushing one end toward the other, causes the strips to partand form an opening. Upon release of the pressure, the strips snap backcontacting one another again to close the opening. The subject device isplaced in or around the throat of a flexible pouch.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the strips 10, 12 have an elongatedbody with two elongated edges 14, 16 and two ends 18, 20. Flanges on thestrips assist the device in returning to its original position, closed.The flanges 22, 24, extend from an edge of the strip 14, 16,respectively, and proceed at an angle of from about 20 degrees to about35 degrees. In a preferred embodiment the flange extends from the edgeof the strip at about 25 degrees and is about one-half the width of thestrip.

The strips can be made of a variety of materials, or mixtures ofmaterials, that provide the flexible memory necessary to return thestrips to the original shape. In the exemplified embodiments, the stripsare formed of plastic by injection molding and extrusion. It should benoted however that the strips can be made of other materials and byother means as long as the materials have a flexible memory.

The subject device can comprise a latch securement member 26. Thesecurement member allows the bag to be temporarily sealed for storage.In the exemplified embodiment, a simple ball latch is used to secure onestrip to the other. It should be noted however that any suitablesecuring means can be applied to the subject strips to secure the stripstogether (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,204,388 B2). Additionally,latch securement means 26 can be present on the bags as integral membersof the subject opening means, as shown, or independent of those means.

As noted previously, in the exemplified embodiments, the device of thesubject invention are plastic. FIGS. 1-6 show embodiments of the devicemade of plastic and formed by extrusion. Each strip 10, 12 with itsflange 22, 24, and any other associated devices such as securement means26 or liquid barrier means, is extruded in a continuous roll. Individualstrips are cut to length from the roll. Opposing strips are joined atthe ends and then adhered to the throat of the sleeve-like flexible bagnear its opening by appropriate means. These means can include, but arenot limited to, heat, sonic welding, glues and adhesives. Allembodiments of the opening means of the subject invention can be appliedwithin the throat of the bag or around the outside of the bag.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a particularly preferred embodiment of an extrudedversion of the subject invention. In this embodiment, strip and flangeedges are rounded. Rounded edges on these components are preferred forassembly and machining processes.

Another preferred embodiment of the device of the subject invention isshown in FIGS. 7-10. In this embodiment, both strips 10, 12 are formedin a single mold and are folded to oppose one another. Latch pieces 28molded into the free ends of each strip secure the other end of thestrips together. In the exemplified embodiment, the flange of one strip22 extends from the top of the strip while the flange of the other strip24 extends from the bottom of the strip. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 thisis done to reduce the stack height on the assembled strip.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show an alternate embodiment of the subject invention.This embodiment, does not include a latch securement means. The openingmeans remains pressure, squeeze openable and returns to a closedposition upon release of pressure to close the bag. Flanges on eachstrip assist in snapping the bag closed. The subject embodiment, can beapplied within the throat of a sleeve-like bag or around the outside ofthe bag.

FIGS. 13-16 show another preferred embodiment of the device of thesubject invention. In this embodiment, a bulge in the center of eachstrip 10, 12 cause the strips to return to their original position,closed. The bulge in each strip 30,32, like the flange, provide astructural biasing means to return the strips to their originalposition. In It should be apparent to one skilled in the art howeverthere are other structural means that can be used to cause the strips tosnap closed. In this embodiment, the bulge has a half teardrop shape.The exemplified shape provides the strip tensile strength and is easy toform by injection molding. Other bulge shapes however can be applied tothe strips to give them their resilient properties.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the bulge is centered on thestrip surround by a planar border that when in contact with the planarborder of the opposing strip provides a sealing surface. The planarborder also provides structure to the strip. This planar area need notsurround the bulge but can be just a margin on one side of the bulge.Further, no border or margin is necessary. The shape and structure ofthe opposing strips need only assure that an opening if formed when theends of the strips are squeezed and that opening closes upon release ofpressure on the ends. Strip shapes and structures suitable for thesubject invention can include, but are not limited to, oval,semi-circular and triangular. The exemplified embodiment can bepositioned outside the bag 34 and around the throat of the bag (FIG. 17)or inside the throat of the bag 36 (FIG. 18). If positioned inside thethroat of the bag, the sealing surface can include securement means 26.

The subject device is a pressure responsive squeeze openable means thatupon release of the pressure snaps back to close the opening created.Applying this device to flexible packaging bags makes them spill-proof.The opening means is squeezed to open the bag and access its contentsthen upon release the bag snaps closed to prevent the contents fromspilling. The subject device is particularly useful when applied tosingle serving packages of snack foods. It should be noted that thesubject embodiment can be used in association with other devices foundon such packages, like, for example, zipper-type securement means,liquid barrier means, and tamper/open indicating means.

It is understood that the foregoing examples are merely illustrative ofthe present invention. Certain modifications of the articles and/ormethods may be made and still achieve the objectives of the invention.Such modifications are contemplated as within the scope of the claimedinvention.

1. A self-closing, squeeze-openable device for a flexible pouchcomprising: a strip having one end and an opposite end; another striphaving one end and an opposite end, the one end of the strip connectedto the one end of the another strip and the opposite end of the stripconnected to the opposite end of the another strip to form opposingstrips; and biasing means to bias the strip to the another strip;wherein when squeezing pressure is applied to the connected one ends ofthe opposing strips pushing the connected one ends toward the connectedopposite ends of the opposing strips an opening is formed and when thepressure is released the opening closes.
 2. The device of claim 1,wherein said biasing means is a flange along an edge of each strip. 3.The device of claim 1, wherein said biasing means is a bulge on eachstrip.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein said ends of said opposingstrips are connected by fusion.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein saidends of said opposing strips are connected by latch pieces.
 6. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein said device is positioned in a throat of saidflexible pouch.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein said device ispositioned around a throat of said flexible pouch.
 8. The device ofclaim 1, further comprising securement means.
 9. The device of claim 8,wherein said securement means is a ball latch.
 10. A method of making aself-closing, squeeze-openable device for a flexible pouch, the methodcomprising the steps of: connecting one end of a strip to one end ofanother strip; connecting an opposite end of the strip to an oppositeend of the to form opposing strips; and providing biasing means to biasthe strip to the another strip; wherein when squeezing pressure isapplied to the connected one ends of the opposing strips pushing theconnected one ends toward the connected opposite ends of the opposingstrips an opening is formed and when the pressure is released theopening closes.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein each of said stripsare extruded.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein each of said stripsare injection molded.
 13. A self-closing, squeeze-openable flexiblepouch comprising: an opening means comprising a strip having one end andan opposite end; another strip having one end and an opposite end, theone end of the strip connected to the one end of the another strip andthe opposite end of the strip connected to the opposite end of theanother strip to form opposing strips; and biasing means to bias thestrip to the another strip; wherein when squeezing pressure is appliedto the connected one ends of the opposing strips pushing the connectedone ends toward the connected opposite ends of the opposing strips anopening is formed and when the pressure is released the opening closes.14. The device of claim 13, wherein said opening means is positioned ina throat of said flexible pouch.
 15. The device of claim 13, whereinsaid opening means is positioned around a throat of said flexible pouch.16. The device of claim 13, wherein said biasing means is a flange alongan edge of each strip.
 17. The device of claim 13, wherein said biasingmeans is a bulge on each strip.
 18. The device of claim 13, wherein saidends of said opposing strips are connected by fusion.
 19. The device ofclaim 13, wherein said ends of said opposing strips are connected bylatch pieces.
 20. The device of claim 13, further comprising securementmeans.